Doctors and health care providers typically record their diagnoses and reports and turn the dictations over to a medical transcriptionist for transcribing. It's the role of the transcriptionist to listen to the recording and type the report into a logical readable document. Medical transcriptionists must be well-versed in medical terminology, human anatomy and medical procedures performed by the physicians for whom they work. While writing and computer skills are vital, most employers look for a two-year associate degree or a one-year certificate in medical transcription. There are no certification requirements for medical transcriptionists, but voluntary designations are available.
Who Can Benefit
Both newcomers to the industry and experienced medical professionals can benefit from online medical transcription training. Courses are available that teach the basics and take the student through the entire range of required skills, including physiology and terminology. Technical skills needed for the work are available through other programs. Transcribing classes can be helpful to professionals already proficient in the medical terminology who want to cross over into another profession. Advanced courses prepare transcribers to take on new levels of transcribing or learn different medical specialties.
Online Schools
There are a number of strictly online schools that develop courses that are easily taught through the Internet. Web-only institutions such as Allied Schools and Career Step offer complete medical transcription programs that can lead to a certificate recognized by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity. Most online schools make their courses available over a limited period of time, usually four to six months. Additional material in the form of books and CDs will incur additional fees. Look for special offers such as free time extensions and discounts for full payment upfront.
Specialty Schools
Schools that provide medical education such as Meditech, which has been in business since 1969, have migrated most of their training to web-based teaching. Formerly utilizing on-site classrooms or mail-order books, CDs and tapes, the older transcriptionist training programs need to keep up with the technology used in the industry as well as the delivery of their training programs. These types of online schools retain their industry experience and contacts that they provide when helping graduate find jobs.
Traditional Schools Online
Penn Foster, the University of Phoenix and DeVry University all offer certificate and degree programs online for medical transcriptionists. Most community colleges and technical schools offer classes online as well. As the educational industry utilizes the Internet more and more, the programs have become increasingly accepted in the workplace.
Costs
Online schools accept credit card payments and have some loan capabilities with interest rates as high as 12 percent for the programs that run about $2,000. Certificate training in more traditional online schools typically are less expensive. A basic program that will lead to a certificate costs about $600 at most online career schools. Community colleges may be the most intense and cost-effective means to obtaining a thorough proficiency in the field and average about $1,500.
